• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.235-246
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• 1996

Placer gold in collected heavy minerals from several localities in Huongkhe area, is consistently very finegrained (${\leq}100$ to $400{\mu}m$). The size and size distribution show somewhat differences at Dongdo and Hoahai : at Dongdo, predominant relatively larger and wide distribution; at Hoahai, characteristic relatively finer and narrow distribution range. The morphology of gold grains is divided into the four groups assumed by the dimension ratio : spherical, subprismoidal, prismoidal, and irregular. The gold grains at Dongdo show wide morphological distribution, whereas, at Hoahai, spherical form is predominant (${\approx}75%$). Three main types of gold are classified based on their chemical composition and mode of occurrence: type I (electrum; fineness=568~931), type II (amalgam; fineness=671~927), and type III (native gold; fineness=923~999). Type I gold contains, relatively high and variable silver contents (${\approx}11$ to 58 atomic % Ag), and has been classified into two subtypes based on their silver contents (type IA, ${\approx}11{\sim}39$ atomic % Ag; type IB, ${\approx}40{\sim}58$ atomic % Ag). However, type I gold would have been generally original compositions of electrum which originated at the provenance deposits. Mercury reacts with gold and silver to form amalgam (type II gold) which has variable Hg contents (1.2~30.5 atomic % Hg). The mercury contents in gold grains at Hoahai (10.9~30.5 atomic % Hg) are higher than those at Dongdo (5.8~21.1 atomic % Hg). The gold grains from the area generally exhibit a high-purity gold (type III) rim. The individual rims on the various grains range from <1 to $80{\mu}m$ in thickness and have silver contents of <10 atomic percent Ag, even though the core compositions range from ${\approx}11$ to 58 atomic percent Ag. The rim of gold most likely is responsible for the commonly cited cases of gold from placer deposits assaying at higher values of fineness than the gold in the corresponding source lode. The gold-rich rim in the Huongkhe area apparently forms by a combination of self-electrorefining and preferential dissolution of silver under oxidizing nature during the weathering and transport process. All data of gold grains in the Huongkhe area suggest that the transport distances and/or time of placer gold at Hoahai are generally farther than those at Dongdo. The mercurian gold bearing provenance deposits at Dongdo and Hoahai would be suggest nearest epithermal gold-silver vein-type.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.440-446
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• 2019

This study examined the growth and fruiting characteristics and the acorns biomass allometric equation of Quercus acuta to provide reference data related to the growth and seed supply during the restoration of evergreen forest in the warm temperate zone in Wando Island, Korea. For the growth survey, we selected and cut three sample trees having a mean diameter at breast height (DBH) to investigate the growth analysis through a stem analysis. We then developed the allometric equation (Y=aX+b) of DBH and tree height growth characteristic (Y) according to the average tree age (X) of sampled trees and estimated the DBH and tree height according to the age of Quercus acuta. For the fruiting survey, we selected and cut three sample trees with full fruit in August when, they are at the early mature fruiting stage, for the analysis. To develop the acorns/tree biomass allometric equation of Quercus acuta, we selected and cut ten sample trees of evenly divided diameters. The acorns biomass allometric equation ($Y=aX^b$) was derived by analyzing the biomass (Y) and the growth characteristics (X), such as the DBH, tree height, crown width, and crown height. The allometric equations of average tree age according to DBH and tree height were Y=0506X-2.064 ($R^2=0.999$) and Y=0.321X+0689 ($R^2=0.992$), respectively. The developed allometric equations estimated that the DBH were 3.0cm, 8.1cm, 13.1cm and 18.2cm while the tree heights were 3.9m, 7.1m, 10.3m, and 13.5m when the tree ages were 10, 20, 30, and 40 years, respectively. The analysis results of fruiting characteristics showed that the length, the diameter, the number of fruits, and the number of acorns per fruiting branch had the statistically significant difference and tended to decrease from the upper part to the lower part of crown downward. The total number of acorns was 1,312 acorns/tree in the upper part, 115 acorns/tree in the middle part, and 5 acorns/tree in the lower part of the crown. The allometric equation for the amount of acorns with DBH as an independent variable was $Y=0.003X^{4.260}$ with the coefficient of determination at 0.896. Although the coefficient of determination of the allometric equation using only DBH as the independent variable was lower than that using DBH and tree height ($D^2H$), it would be more practical to consider only DBH as the independent variable because of measurement errors.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.379-393
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• 2002

Within the Boseong-Jangheung area of Korea, five hydrothermal gold (-silver) quartz vein deposits occur. They have the characteristic features as follows: the relatively gold-rich nature of e1ectrurns; the absence of Ag-Sb( -As) sulfosalt mineral; the massive and simple mineralogy of veins. They suggest that gold mineralization in this area is correlated with late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous, mesothermal-type gold deposits in Korea. Fluid inclusion data show that fluid inclusions in stage I quartz of the mine area homogenize over a wide temperature range of 200$^{\circ}$ to 460$^{\circ}$C with salinities of 0.0 to 13.8 equiv. wt. % NaCI. The homogenization temperature of fluid inclusions in stage II calcite of the mine area ranges from 150$^{\circ}$ to 254$^{\circ}$C with salinities of 1.2 to 7.9 equiv. wt. % NaCI. This indicates a cooling of the hydrothermal fluid with time towards the waning of hydrothermal activity. Evidence of fluid boiling including CO2 effervescence indicates that pressures during entrapment of auriferous fluids in this area range up to 770 bars. Calculated sulfur isotope composition of auriferous fluids in this mine area (${\delta}^34S$_{{\Sigma}S}$$\textperthousand$) indicates an igneous source of sulfur in auriferous hydrothermal fluids. Within the Sobaegsan Massif, two representative mesothermal-type gold mine areas (Youngdong and Boseong-Jangheung areas) occur. The ${\delta}^34S values of sulfide minerals from Youngdong area range from -6.6 to 2.3$\textperthousand$ (average=-1.4$\textperthousand$, N=66), and those from BoseongJangheung area range from -0.7 to 3.6$\textperthousand$ (average=1.6$\textperthousand$, N=39). These i)34S values of both areas are comparatively lower than those of most Korean metallic ore deposits (3 to 7TEX>$\textperthousand$). And, within the Sobaegsan Massif, the ${\delta}^34S values of Youngdong area are lower than those of Boseong-Jangheung area. It is inferred that the difference of ${\delta}^34S values within the Sobaegsan Massif can be caused by either of the following mechanisms: (1) the presence of at least two distinct reservoirs (both igneous, with ${\delta}^34S values of < -6 $\textperthousand$ and 2$\pm$2 %0) for Jurassic mesothermal-type gold deposits in both areas; (2) different degrees of the mixing (assimilation) of 32S-enriched sulfur (possibly sulfur in Precambrian pelitic basement rocks) during the generation and/or subsequent ascent of magma; and/or (3) different degrees of the oxidation of an H2S-rich, magmatically derived sulfur source ${\delta}^34S = 2$\pm$2$\textperthousand$) during the ascent to mineralization sites. According to the observed differences in ore mineralogy (especially, iron-bearing ore minerals) and fluid inclusions of quartz from the mesothermal-type deposits in both areas, we conclude that pyrrhotite-rich, mesothermal-type deposits in the Youngdong area formed from higher temperatures and more reducing fluids than did pyrite(-arsenopyrite)-rich mesothermal-type deposits in the Boseong-Jangheung area. Therefore, we prefer the third mechanism than others because the ${\delta}^34S values of the Precambrian gneisses and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks occurring in both areas were not known to the present. In future, in order to elucidate the provenance of ore sulfur more systematically, we need to determine ${\delta}^34S values of the Precambrian metamorphic rocks and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks consisting the basement of the Korean Peninsula including the Sobaegsan Massif.